jones



H. P. JONES.

Patentad Min. 29, I898,

ENVELOP MOISTENING, SEALING, A'ND STAMP AFFIXINB MACHINE.

(No Model.)

(Application filed Dec. 15, 1897.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

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No. 6l5.l85. Patented Nov. 29, I898. H. P. JONES.

ENVELOP MOISTENING, SEALING, AND STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE.

(Application filed Dec. 15 1897.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

INVENTOH v ATTORNEYS.

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NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARVEY P. JONES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO GEORGE B. JONES, OF SAME PLACE.

ENVELOP MOISTENING, SEALING, AND STAMP-AFFIXING M-ACHINE.

A SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 615,185, dated November 29, 1898.

Application filed December 15,1897. Serial No. 662,023. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARVEY P. JONES, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and Improved Envelop Moistening, Sealing, and Stamp-Affixing Machine,of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved machine for moistening and sealing envelops and affixing stamps thereto, the machine being Very simple and durable in construction and arranged to permit of conveniently moistening the gummed flap of an envelop, to securely seal it to the body, and to finally apply a postage-stamp in an effective and simple manner and without the operator soiling the hands or mouth.

The invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations of the same, as will be fully described hereinafter, and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the improvement. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the moistener for the gummed flap of the envelop, and Fig. 5 is a transverse section of the stamp-holder on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3.

The improved machine is mounted on a frame provided with standards A A, formed at their upper ends with heads A A rigidly connected with each other by side bars B B, of which the side bar B carries downwardly and forwardly extending brackets C, supporting a water-tank D, while the other side bar B supports a downwardly-extending letterholder E, made of sheet metal or basket-wire in the form of a scoop, as is plainly shown in the drawings.

On the water-tank D is arranged a moistener F for moistening the gummed side of the envelop-sealing flap, the said moistener being provided with a casing F, containing a piece of felt F or other similar absorbent material, the casing being supported on the top of the tank D by a flange F so that a portion of the felt F extends down into the wathe gummed face of the flap as the latter is drawn along under the hood.

After the envelop-sealing flap is moistened at the gummed or under side, as described, the flap is sealed to the body of the envelop by a sealing device arranged between the heads A A and the side bars B B. The sealing device is provided with two yieldingly-mounted plates G G, mounted to swing in recesses A formed on the inner faces of the heads A A and the said plates are pressed on at the outside by springs H, held on pins B carried on the inside of the bars B B, the latter being preferably made concave in cross-section for the reception of the springs, as is plainly shown in Fig. 2. The lower ends of the plates G G are formed with inwardly-extending flanges G for the upper edge of the envelop to rest on, the said flanges extending over a shaft I, mounted to turn in suitable bearings in the standards A A.

On the shaft I, between the plates G G, is arranged a presser J, preferably made peakshaped to conform to the shape of the envelop-flap, the said presser serving to press the flap up against one of the yielding plates G or G. It is understood that the presser J is arranged to oscillate between the plates G G and can be thrown from one plate toward the other by the operator manipulating a handle I, secured on one outer end of the shaft I. Now-as the face of the envelop rests against the plate G and the presser J is swung over toward the flap it is evident that the said presser comes in contact with the flap, and consequently presses the same in contact with the body of the envelop to seal the same.

In order to give the desired pressure to the presser J when moving into a closingor seal- ICO ing position, as above described, I have provided the ends of the shaft I with downwardly-extending arms I 1 each engaging a head K, mounted on a spring Ii, carried by the corresponding standard A or A. Each head or button K has a shank K, extending into the coil of a spring L, so that the button readily moves with the arm 1 or I to one side or the other as the shaft I is oscillated, so as to exert a pressure on the arm to turn the shaft I and hold the presser J firmly in contact with the flap of the envelop.

After the envelop is moistened, as described, and placed in the sealing device, either on the plate G or G, as described, the operator then seals the flap by moving the handle I to rock the shaft and bring the presser J against the flap. The pressure of the spring L firmly forces the presser J in contact with the flap to seal the latter to the body of the envelop. This envelop is left in the sealing device until another envelop is moistened and placed on the other free plate G or G, and then the handle I is thrown over in the opposite direction to release the first envelop and to seal the flap to the body of the second envelop. The first-sealed envelop is now removed from the sealing device to receive a postage-stamp.

In order to apply the stamp, the operator first moistens the stamp-receiving corner on the face of the envelop on a device N, carried on the top of the tank D at one side of the moistening device F. This moistening device N is provided with a casing N, extending through an opening in the top of the tank to the interior thereof, a portion of the casing extending a suitable distance above the tank, as shown. In the casing is arranged a piece of felt or other suitable absorbent material N which projects slightly above the top of the casing and also projects into the water contained in the tank, so that the water passes by capillary attraction to the top of the piece of felt. A flange N is formed on the outside of the casing to support the latter in the position described on the top of the tank D. On the upper end of the casing is formed a flange N provided on one side with an upwardly-extending lug N for gaging the edge of the envelop relatively to the moistened surface of the piece of felt N so as to bring the moistener in the proper place on the face of the envelop when the latter is placed in contact with the top of the said felt N Vhen the corner has been moistened, the envelop is taken to a stamp-carrying device O, supported on an extension of the bottom of the tank D, the said affixing device 0 being provided with a fixed post 0, on which is fitted to slide a casing 0 containing single postage-stamps P, placed one on the top of the other, the lower one resting on a plate 0 carried at the upper end of the post 0'. A pin 0' extends from the casing 0 into a groove 0 formed vertically in the post 0, so as to guide the casing in its up-and-down movement on the post, the casing being normally held in an uppermost position by a spring 0 coiled on the post, and resting with its lower end on the support for the post and at its upper end on the underside of the easing 0 The upper end of the casing O is formed with a flange O doubled at the sides and ends to form a guideway O for a slide Q, made U-shaped and having an opening over the top opening of the casing somewhat less in size than that of the stamp to prevent more than one stamp from passing out of the easing when the device is used.

011 the rear end of the slide Q is formed a downwardly-extending stop Q for holding the slide Q in proper position over the casing 0 and on one side of the slide is arranged an upwardly-extending lug Q for gaging the envelop and bringing the moistened portion directly over the opening of the slide Q and the casing.

lVhen it is desired to affix a stamp after the envelop is moistened as described, the operator presses the moistened face upon the slide Q, then presses downward to move the envelop-slide Q and easing O in a downward direction to finally bring the moistened face of the envelop in contact with the upper gummed side of the uppermost postage-stamp 1", contained in the casing 0 As the uppermost stamp will now adhere to the envelop the operator gradually releases the pressure, so that the spring 0 causes the casing with the slide and envelop to move upward, the envelop carrying the stamp along. \Vhen the casing is finally in an uppermost position, the operator moves the envelop toward himself, so that the afiixed stamp slides under the flanges of the slide Q and between the guideways 0 until the stamp is completely clear of the slide and casing. The sealed envelop with the postage-stamp alfixed is now stored in the letter-holder E.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A device of the class described, provided with a yieldinglymounted upright plate formed at its lower edge with a flange for an envelop to rest on, and a presser mounted to swing toward and from the said plate, and pressed on by springs to hold the presser in firm contact with the envelop carried by the said plate, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination with a frame, of two guiding-plates sustained on the frame, a presser mounted on the frame to swing be tween the plates, and a spring actuating the presser and serving to hold it against either of the plates.

3. The combination with a frame of two yielding plates mounted thereon, a presser mounted on the frame to swing between the plates, an arm in connection withthe presser, a head bearing against the arm and a spring IIC pressing the head to hold the presser against either of the plates.

4E. The combination of a frame composed of two heads joined by parallel side bars, two 5 plates located between the side bars, springs respectively bearing between the plates and side bars, and a presser mounted to swing between the plates.

5. The combination of a frame composed of 10 two heads joined by parallel bars, two plates located between the heads, springs bearing respectively between the plates and bars to yieldinglysustain the plates, a presser mount= ed to swing between the plates, an arm in con nection with the presser and swinging therewith, a head bearing against the arm and a spring pressing the head to actuate the presser.

HARVEY P. JONES. Witnesses:

GEO. B. JONES, D. P. HENDRICKS. 

